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Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Lakes & Dales by Rail

Heritage railway loop through Lake District and Yorkshire Dales from Wetheral

Illustration of Lakes & Dales by Rail

Lakes & Dales by Rail is a five-day escorted tour run by Great Rail Journeys, based in the village of Wetheral near Carlisle. You travel on three heritage railways across northern England's most celebrated landscapes: the Lakeside & Haverthwaite line through the Leven Valley to Windermere, the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway (England's oldest minimum-gauge railway, opened in 1875) through scenic Eskdale, and the Settle-Carlisle line across the Yorkshire Dales and the Ribblehead Viaduct. Days are unhurried; you return each evening to the Crown Hotel and enjoy a full breakfast and dinner. The itinerary mixes rail journeys, a cruise on Windermere, and guided exploration of market towns and castles, including Muncaster (800 years in one family) and Skipton (900-year-old castle on cobbled streets). A UK Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout. This tour suits rail enthusiasts, history lovers, and couples seeking guided comfort in classic English countryside.

What to know before you look closer

  • Steam-hauled trains are used where possible but may occasionally be diesel-hauled depending on timetable and availability.
  • The tour is based in one hotel throughout; Wetheral is a village close to Carlisle, not in the Lake District itself.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Wetheral

    Arrive in the scenic village of Wetheral

    Your holiday begins as you arrive independently at the Crown Hotel, Wetheral, meeting the Tour Manager and the rest of the group. Situated in a picturesque village, close to the Scottish border and the city of Carlisle, this is the perfect base for explorations. With time at leisure before dinner at the hotel this evening, you could get to know the village. Head out for a stroll along the banks of the River Eden, or seek out its 16th-century church, Benedictine priory and traditional village green. This triangular green is dominated by the ornate brick-built Eden Bank constructed in 1834 and features Wetheral Cross standing in one corner.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2railovernight: Wetheral

    Visiting the picturesque town of Windermere

    After breakfast, transfer by coach to Haverthwaite where you board a steam train to Lakeside, on the southern shore of Windermere. A cruise takes you across Windermere to the town of Bowness. In Bowness, there is time at leisure to explore the town, including the option to visit the house of Beatrix Potter. On the way back to Wetheral by coach, pause in pretty Grasmere, once home to William Wordsworth, where you can try Grasmere gingerbread made since 1854. *Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  3. Day 3railovernight: Wetheral

    Discover Ravenglass and the historic Muncaster Castle

    The coach takes you to Ravenglass. In Ravenglass, a steam-hauled rail journey to Dalegarth awaits aboard the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, one of the oldest minimum-gauge heritage railways in England, originally opened in 1875. From Dalegarth, rejoin the coach and head to Muncaster Castle, owned by the Pennington family for more than 800 years. *Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead. Please Note: For departures 14th June and 6th September, Days 3 and 4 have swapped around.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4railovernight: Wetheral

    Exploring Skipton and riding the Settle to Carlisle Railway

    A spectacular journey to Skipton on the Settle to Carlisle line awaits after breakfast. The route took seven years to complete before its opening in 1875. The train cuts through hills, mountains and valleys, over marshland and rivers, entering the Yorkshire Dales and passing over the majestic Ribblehead Viaduct. In Skipton, explore the market town's cobbled streets and Skipton Castle, a well-preserved medieval fortress. After the scenic return journey to Carlisle, the coach takes you back to Wetheral for dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5

    Homeward bound

    After a leisurely breakfast, your holiday comes to an end today. You may choose to spend more time exploring independently before making your way home.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Steam train journey from Haverthwaite to Lakeside on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway, followed by a cruise across Windermere to Bowness.
  • Day 3Steam-hauled rail journey on the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway from Ravenglass to Dalegarth, England's oldest minimum-gauge heritage railway, originally opened in 1875.
  • Day 4The Settle-Carlisle Railway from Skipton passes through the Yorkshire Dales, crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct, and cuts through hills, mountains, valleys, marshland, and rivers.

Included

  • Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 4 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail and coach travel throughout the tour
  • Breakfast and dinner each day
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. Great Rail Journeys includes all rail and coach travel throughout the tour, covering the Lakeside & Haverthwaite, Ravenglass & Eskdale, and Settle-Carlisle railways in Standard Class.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
Escorted. A UK Tour Manager leads the group throughout, and all guided tours and excursions are included. You stay in one hotel (Crown Hotel, Wetheral) for all four nights.
What is included in the price?
Four nights at a 4-star hotel, breakfast and dinner daily, all rail and coach travel, the Windermere cruise, visits to Muncaster Castle and guided tours in Skipton and Bowness, plus the expertise of your Tour Manager.
How much walking is involved?
Moderate. Days include walking in Bowness, Grasmere, and the market town of Skipton, plus exploration of Muncaster Castle and Skipton Castle grounds. Coach transfers connect the railway stations and sites.
What is not included?
Cancellation and travel insurance, plus any optional visits (such as Beatrix Potter's house in Bowness).
How large are the groups?
The maximum group size is 40 travellers.

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